This site is about cranes, in particular Coles Cranes and the history of Coles. To see why this site came about see the section "About Site" . This site will discribe somthing about mobile cranes, the history of Coles Cranes and lots of pictures along with some intresting little technical details.Coles stopped trading in 1984 and is now only a part of crane history. This site is dedicated to remembering what was once one of the largest crane manufacturing companies in the world.

Remember there is a NEW SITE FOR COLES CRANES

Last update : 16/10/2013 : New - Two updates to the downloadable books - First new information on the Colossus 6000 machines. Second much need information about the Grove years and the final shutdown of the Sunderland plant in the book Coles the Final Years. These PDF files which can be downloaded from the new site which can be accessed here SELECT HERE FOR ALL NEW COLES CRANE SITE.

Look in the "COLES NEWS" for more information about this updated items.
To access Coles News edition 12 (Click here) or NEWS on any title block

COLES CRANE IMAGE TYPE DATABASE and TYPE HISTORY
The extensive database of this site contains listings of most of the types of crane produced by Coles over it history. Where possible photographs and details are given along with the introduction date of that type.
Also included here is an outline history of the group types and what they were designed to do.

THE HISTORY OF COLES CRANES
Coles Cranes started in 1879 and went on to be a world company only closing 119 years later 1998, when taken over by Grove cranes. Follow this story in words, pictures and time line.There is the full history of Coles and short historys companys Coles took over.

CATALOUGES AND LISTS OF TYPES
This section includes lists and details of cranes from various catalogues OF different periods of Coles history. Currently there are Port Cranes from 1956 the General catalogue from 1970 and the range from 1975, as well a test list of all known units starting from 1964.
Select here or Image Left

PICTURE HISTORY TIME LINEA time line showing when certain models of the basic cranes were developed and introduced by Coles over the years.

THE WORKS MODELS
Here we take as a starting point the scale models made
at the Sunderland works. What these models were for
and how they relate to the full sized cranes produced
by Coles. These include historical Coles cranes, current
types and prototype models.

ABOUT THIS SITE
How this site came about. How I came to be the
model maker to Coles at Sunderland and a look at the
Sunderland works. Find out what the odd looking
machine to the left has to do with this story.
The story begins.....Select here or Image Left.

COLES CROWN WORKS - SUNDERLAND
Details of the main Coles works at Sunderland. Details about where it is and some photographs of the factory from when it was in full production in 1968